Storage tank



J. w. ALLE STORAGE TANK Jan. 29, 1952 J 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1945 J. W. ALLEN STORAGE TANK Filed Nov. 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Llllll illlllllllliilhl,

Patented 1:11.29, 1952 UNITED s'rA'rss PATENT OFFICE s'ronaen TANK :John w. Allen, Chicago, 111., assignor a Chicago Bridge is Iron Company, a corporation of Illi- Application November- 3, 1945, Serial l lo. 820,585

' to the other sections.

The new storage tank comprises a series of hollow members of different and increasing lateral dimensions, from the smallest to the largest,'with all the members arranged about a common axis in the order of their dimensions. Flexible sealing members are provided, with one v sealing member between each adjacent pair of hollow members and attached to the hollow members so as to permit relative axial movement therebetween. The sealing members, which are preferably made of fabric impregnated with a gas-impervious flexible material, have "edge backings comprising the outer surface of one hollow member and the inner surface of the next largest hollow member, with the intermediate portion of each sealing member being bowed outward by pressure of the contents. All of the hollow members are open at both ends except for closure members across those two hollow members forming the ends of the storage tank.

' The invention will be described as related to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Of' the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention with portions broken away; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the center of the liquid holder of Fig. 1 with the holder substantially empty of liquid; Fig. 3 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2 with the holder substantially full of liquid; Fig. 4 is a vertical section substantially through the center of an alternate embodiment of'the invention with the liquid holder in expanded position; Fig. '5 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 4 showing the holder empty; Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a second alternate embodiment with the liquid 1 claim. (01'. 48- 178) holder substantially empty of liquid; Fig. 'l is a the largest section II on the outside and the smallest section I! on the inside (Fig. 2). Each pair of adjacent cylindrical sections have a flexible sealing member i3 between them. These sealing members are preferably made'of a fabric impregnated with a flexible impervious material, such as a synthetic rubber. Each sealing member I 3 has one end attached to the end of i one cylindrical section on the outside surface thereof and the other end attached to substantially the middle of the next largest cylindrical section on the inside surface of said section. Each attached and of the sealing member rests flat against its corresponding surface of the cylindrical section and the attached ends extend in the same direction. This provides a smooth curve over the entire surface of the sealing member with. all except the intermediate bowed portion having backing reinforcements comprising the sides of the cylindrical sections.- Although as shown the circle' of attachment of that end of the sealing member which is attached to the inside surface of the cylinder is shown at substantially the middle of the cylinder, this circle of attachment may be raised or lowered, dependingupon the desired capacity of the gas holder. It is preferred that this circle of attachment be not much below the center of the cylindrical section in order that the sealing member may have adequate backing at all times.

The top cylindrical section III is provided with a rigid cover ll, while the bottom closure memher is in the form of a cylindrical section II resting on foundation I 6. The base section I I does not move but serves only'as a bottom closure member. The bottom sealing member I! is attached to this base section I! at the top edge, and the side of the cylinder I! serves as a backing for the sealing member. A liquid supply pipe I! communicates with the interior of the holder and extends through the foundation II and up through the base cylindrical section I I.

In order to limit the axial movement of the cylindrical sections II, II, and I2, and to prevent undue. strain on the sealing members, there are provided spaced chains l8, l0, and 20 around a the holder. These spaced chains connect each pair of adjacent cylindrical sections. Onthe bottom of the movable cylindrical sections II, II, and I! there are provided annular horizontal flanges 2|, 22, and 23 extending outwardly. Flange ii is on the bottom of cylindrical section l0, flange 22 is on the bottom of cylindrical section ii. and flange 23 is on the bottom of cylindrical section l2. Spaced chains ll extend from 3 the foundation II to the bottom edge of cylindrical section II. Spaced chains I! extend from flange 23 to the bottom of cylindrical section ll, and chains 24 extend from the flange 22 to the bottom of cylindrical section III. These flanges serve not only as points of attachment for the spaced chains, but also serve to hold the movable cylindrical sections l0, H, and I2 apart when v the holder is substantially empty as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to limit the over-all expansion of the any of the ordinary type which is opened by the pull of chain 24.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the order oi the cylindrical sections is reversed with the cylindrical section l5a being at the top of the holder and the largest cylindrical section Ila being at the bottom. Corresponding sealing members It, chains It and 20. and flanges 2|, 22, and 23 are provided. An additional flange 24 is provided at the roof edge of cylinder lia. There is also provided the long central chain 24 and the valve 2| together with the supply pipe II.

In the liquid holder shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 there is provided a central open top cylinder 21 resting on the bottom of the holder with the bottom end of chain 24 extending into the cylinder.

. There are also provided roof reinforcements 24.

The holders shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are for the storage of gases. In Fig. 7 there are provided cylinders llb, llb, l2b, and lib and sealing members ll between adjacent cylinders. Chains b are provided to limit expansion of the holder. There is also provided a stabilizing device comprising a central well 2| attached to the roof and housing a weight 34. This weight is attached by means of radial cables tl to the top of the bottom cylinder llb. Each cable runs over a sheave 32 attached to the top of the well 29, over a second sheave I! attached to the top edge of cylinder ltb, over a third sheave 24 attached to the middle of cylinder lib, over a fourth sheave 25 attached to the top of cylinder l2b, over a fifth sheave It attached to the middle of cylinder l2b, over a sixth sheave l! at the top of cylinder llb, over a seventh sheave ll at the middle of cylinder ll 12, and up to the-top it of cylinder llb. Each cable 8| passes through holes 44 provided in the top (If the well 22. The well is provided with a cover In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 there are the cylinders ltc, He, He and lie sealing members It, valve 2!, central chain 24, and side stabillzing chains lie and 2lc. There is also provided a stabilizing apparatus comprising wheels 42 vertically aligned and rolling against columns 43. As manysets of wheels 42 andcolumns 43 may be provided as desired. Additional wheels 44 are provided mounted on the bottom or top cylinder lie and contacting second cylinder No. Other wheels 44 are provided mounted on the bottom of cylinder Ho and contacting third cylinder l2c. Ordinary bracing 46 is provided between the columns 4t. a In the case of gas holders, the flexible sealing members resist only gas pressure while with liquid holders the members resist only liquid pressure. However, they can also be made to resist a combination of gas and liquid pressure.

In all embodiments of the invention the sealing members It, are attached in the same manner and expansion of the tanks is limited to a predetermined maximum.

When fllling the tanks the top cylindrical section will rise flrst'to the limit of its spaced chains,

and then the other sections will follow in order. When the tank is emptied the bottom section will come to rest on the base of the structure first, followed by the others in regular order. v

Having described myinvention as related to a typical embodiment of the same, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claim.

I claim:

An expansible storage tank comprising a series 01' cylindrical metal sections of diilerent diameters substantially arranged about a common axis in the order of their diameters and flexible sealing members between the cylindrical sections with each sealing member connecting one cylindrical section to the next larger so as to permit relative axial movement therebetween with the bottom of each metal section, except the lowermost section, rising no higher than the top of the next lower section when the tank is fully expanded axially, said cylindrical sections being open at both ends except for closure members extending across those two sections forming the top and bottom ends of the storage tank, and stabilizing means for the tank including a well in the top closure, a movable weight in the well, a plurality of flexible cables having one end attached to the weight and having the-other end attached to the bottom cylindrical section, the intermediate portion of the cable passing over sheaves attached to each of the cylindrical sections.

JOHN W. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flieoi this patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,645,313 Wiggins Oct. 11, 1927 2,050,405 Wiggins Aug. 11, 1936. 2,415,322 Wiggins Feb. 4, i941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 578,423 Germany Mar. 9, 1933, 

